Updated on
Summary Two strong explosions have shaken the Syrian capital Damascus.
Dozens of people were killed or wounded on Thursday as two powerful blasts blamed on terrorists rocked the Syrian capital Damascus during morning rush hour, state television reported.Central Damascus is tightly under the control of forces loyal to President Bashar Assad but has been struck by several bomb attacks, often targeting security installations or convoys.In Washington, meanwhile, President Barack Obama took steps to extend sanctions against the government of President Bashar Assad, saying Syria poses an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and diplomatic goals.The Wednesday attack, which the regime said wounded 10 Syrian soldiers, emphasized the limits of the international communitys plan to use unarmed observers to promote a cease-fire between government troops and rebels trying to topple Assad.The team of 70 U.N. military observers now in Syria should grow to more than 100 in the coming days. It is unclear when the full team of 300 will arrive. They are to oversee a U.N.-brokered cease-fire that was intended to allow for talks on a political solution to the conflict but began unraveling shortly after it was due to take effect on April 12.
